Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Depression Among a Sample of Iraqi Non-Psychiatric Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction Nurses, comprising the largest profession in healthcare, play a significant role in the identification and management of mental health disorders in hospitals. Objectives The study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of non-psychiatric nurses and their encounters with depressive patients throughout their careers. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study with 400 non-psychiatric nurses from different hospitals in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq during October and November 2022. The independent Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and binary logistic regression were used to assess possible factors associated with knowledge and attitude toward depression. Results In this study, 400 non-psychiatric nurses were examined, revealing a mean age of 31.57 ± 8.59 years. Their mean scores for knowledge and attitude toward depression were 5.41 out of a maximum of 11 (standard deviation 1.15) and 5.15 out of 18 (standard deviation 1.83), respectively. Notably, differences in mean knowledge scores were observed concerning participant marital status ( P = .044), while disparities in mean attitude scores are related to participant gender ( P = .010). Upon binary logistic regression analysis, none of the independent variables exhibited an association with good knowledge. Nevertheless, gender emerged as a significant factor influencing attitude toward depression (odds ratio: 0.51; 95% confidence interval: 0.30–0.86; P = .012). Subsequently, in the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, gender sustained significance (adjusted odds ratio: 0.573; 95% confidence interval: 0.348–0.942; P = .028) as the key variable impacting attitudes toward depression among non-psychiatric nurses. Conclusion Based on the results of this study, nurses have insufficient awareness and management skills for depression. It has been experienced and reported that nurses lack knowledge and an attitude toward depression management. The study highlights a significant gap in nurses’ skills for managing depression, urging the immediate improvement of training programs. Customizing these programs to enhance nurses’ abilities in identifying and managing depression is crucial.

Assessment of Anxiety, Stress, and Depression Among COVID-19 Survivors After 40 Months in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: An Online Cross-Sectional Study

“…In the context of COVID-19 survivors, integrating music therapy into mental health support strategies can provide a non-invasive, cost-effective, and culturally adaptable method to alleviate psychological distress and promote recovery. Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effectively used for depression cases that face suicidal ideation and has a significant role in improving mental health outcomes [ 22 - 24 ]. Given its potential benefits, exploring the role of music therapy and CBT in supporting COVID-19 survivors in the Kurdistan region of Iraq is both relevant and timely, offering a complementary approach to traditional mental health interventions.…”